All my life I always had a sweet tooth. I loved chocolate, cookies, cakes, ice cream, soda, candy – anything and everything sweet. When I went vegan, I noticed that after a couple of months, my sweet tooth began to disappear. Many of the sweets that I used to love just didn’t appeal to me anymore. Instead of ice cream now it’s banana nice cream. Instead of milk chocolate it’s dark chocolate. That kind of thing.

As my sweet tooth faded, it was replaced by a savory tooth! I love savory foods, especially if they incorporate an umami taste. This recipe for Sunflower Cheese & Dill Crackers checks off so many boxes. You get the savory, umami, cheesy, nutty Sunflower Cheese complemented with the lighter tasting cracker that is gluten free and contains yummy hints of dill. They pair together so well!

So preheat your oven and soak some sunflower seeds and let’s get started!

There is so much to see and do at Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge in southeast Texas! If you’re in the Rio Grande Valley or traveling through, come check out the 2,088 acre refuge in the town of Alamo. There’s 14 miles of trails, tons of species of birds, a rope bridge, tree tower, observation decks, visitor’s center, nature tram, and historic cemetery. See my favorite photos below from my past two adventures at the refuge, including how I conquered my fear of heights and also thought I got locked inside the refuge at night!

Aside from sun burns and global warming 😩 down here in South Texas we find relief from the blazin’ hot sun on the beaches of South Padre Island, eating some tasty raspas 🍧 or indulging in locally grown watermelons. One of my other favorite go-to treats during warm weather days is banana nice cream. Actually, it’s usually a staple in my diet year round, but I particularly crave it right about this time of year. When I saw some juicy plums at the grocery store a couple of weeks back, I grabbed a few, figuring I’d find something to do with them. I wondered if adding them to nice cream would be weird or wonderful, so I did some googling and discovered it’s definitely doable!

Plum Banana Nice Cream is basically the easiest recipe in the world, so give it a try. It’s creamy and sweet, but kinda tart, and you can add whatever creative toppings you like. Best part is, you get 3 servings of raw fruit with one bowl of nice cream, and it tastes like dessert! If you like this recipe and want more ideas, check out my Turmeric Persimmon Nice Cream or the classic Delicious One Ingredient Banana Nice Cream.

Something that’s been on my mind a lot these past few years is the issue of climate change and the eventually irreversible destruction humans are bestowing upon the earth. We don’t seem to care if future generations have a planet to live on, and the small percentage of people that care enough to take action on this issue are slowed down by powerful politicians and big corporations. If we don’t act soon, we will reach the point of no return and it will be too late to heal this wound that we have inflicted on the environment, on the animals, and on ourselves.

For me personally, I have two main ways that I actively support the environment. By living a vegan lifestyle, my primary goal is to do the least harm possible in this world. By not eating meat or dairy, I avoid contributing to the excessive waste and pollution caused by factory farming and raising livestock. Raising and slaughtering animals for human consumption uses up a ridiculous amount of water, and natural vegetation must be cleared away to grow corn and soy products to feed these animals. Cows emit high amounts of methane gas into the air, and grazing pastures take up space that could instead be used to grow fruits & vegetables that would not only use up significantly less resources, but would yield enough product to help feed starving people around the world.

Another way I support the environment is by recycling. I don’t throw away anything that is recyclable. It’s an easy way to do something positive and doesn’t take up much effort or time.

However, I’m interested in finding other ways to make better changes in the world. As a student currently pursuing studies in Political Science, I realize that with the right knowledge, experience, and attitude I can make a difference by using the political system. Today I attended a meeting for the Citizens’ Climate Lobby, a non-profit organization that has a plan and policy that can drastically reduce our carbon footprint. What is it? And how can you get involved? Read on and I’ll tell you!

As a vegan, sometimes I find myself missing certain foods I enjoyed before I went completely plant-based. Foods like barbecue, pot roast, baked brie, and smoked salmon. These are foods that are difficult to veganize, although vegan barbecue is becoming a big trend. If you live in a vegan friendly city, then the plant-based options are endless. For example, the last time I visited Austin I went to the local grocery store and lo and behold I came across Vegan Smoked Salmon by a company called Sophie’s Kitchen.

I snatched the package from the fridge then raced around the store to add vegan cream cheese and gluten free bagels to my shopping cart, plus some red onion and tomato. I knew exactly what I wanted. Lox and bagels! Here’s my review on vegan smoked salmon plus some tips and where you can find vegan seafood products 🐟🦐

HEY THERE! I’M JILLIAN.

I live along the border of Mexico in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas and create cruelty-free recipes that are delicious! I'm here to show you that it's easy to follow a plant based lifestyle. Not only are the health and beauty benefits noticeable, but it creates a more sustainable planet and keeps our animal friends safe & happy. I also love books, music, dark chocolate, and the great outdoors. LEARN MORE…

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